Two classic case of putting the cart before the horse in democratic experimentation and as expected it doesnt quite add up. The moral in this synopsis by Fareed Zakaria offers a simple but profound lesson in democratic engineering. Unfortunately the lesson came far too late for the Iraqis and the Ehyptians. The Arab world’s two largest experiments in democracy, Iraq and Egypt, have, unfortunately, poor choices in common. Both placed elections ahead of constitutions and popular participation ahead of individual rights. Both have had as their first elected leaders strongmen with Islamist backgrounds who have no real dedication to liberal democracy. The results have been the establishment of “illiberal democracy” in Iraq and the danger of a similar system in Egypt. The best role models for the region might well be two small monarchies. Jordan and Morocco have gone the opposite route, making measured reforms and liberalizing their existing systems. The monarchies have chosen evolution over revolution. So far, it seems the better course.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 07:18:12 +0000
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